Despite ongoing challenges, the program was effectively carried out under the leadership of the District Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Fatherland Front, with coordinated efforts from local agencies and communities. Policies supporting economic development, poverty reduction, and housing for families of revolutionary contributors, as well as poor and near-poor households, were consistently prioritized.

Contributions from enterprises, religious communities, and the public both inside and outside the district played a vital role.

The results achieved have contributed to ensuring social welfare and improving the living standards of the people. 
Although significant progress has been made in ensuring social welfare and improving living conditions, Chau Thanh still has over 6,550 poor and near-poor households, including hundreds still lacking safe housing.

According to Mr. Phan Thanh Phuong, Chairman of the Chau Thanh Fatherland Front, a comprehensive survey identified 193 households eligible for assistance under the Ministry of Construction’s Decision 55/QD-BXD. The program supported the construction of 173 new houses and repair of 20 others, with a subsidy of VND 60 million for new construction and VND 30 million for repairs. Among the beneficiaries were 16 families of revolutionary contributors and 177 poor or near-poor households. Two beneficiaries were later removed due to death.

With a focus on rapid and efficient implementation, the district prioritized urgent cases first, completing and handing over houses to 44 households in critical need and 3 revolutionary contributor families before Lunar New Year 2025. By April 30, 2025, all 15 homes for revolutionary contributor families had been completed, and by May 30, 2025, housing was provided to 176 poor and near-poor households (167 new builds, 9 repairs), thus fulfilling the program’s objectives one month ahead of schedule. 

The newly built homes adhere to the “three-solid” standard, ensuring safe and adequate living conditions for residents. The total funding for the program was nearly VND 11 billion. Of this, nearly VND 5.8 billion was allocated by the provincial Fatherland Front, VND 2.4 billion came from the district-level Fatherland Front, and families themselves contributed over VND 776 million.

“To ensure support reaches the right beneficiaries, the Standing Committee of the Chau Thanh Fatherland Front, along with commune and township officials, conducted on-site assessments of each poor household’s housing conditions. Based on these assessments, appropriate support plans were implemented. In addition to official funding, local authorities mobilized residents to contribute financially, as well as through labor and materials, to help construct sturdier and more spacious homes,” said Mr. Phan Thanh Phuong.

Many communes and townships employed innovative approaches to mobilize resources, emphasizing accountability and close collaboration among relevant agencies. Tan Phu Commune was notably effective in eliminating substandard housing for poor households. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Can Dang Commune Fatherland Front Ha Thanh Hong shared that under the program, the commune completed the construction of 33 new “Great Solidarity” homes and repaired three others for poor and near-poor households. Besides support from higher-level authorities, the commune also mobilized additional local resources to improve the durability and quality of the homes, helping residents stabilize their lives, enhance economic conditions, and sustainably escape poverty...

Ms. Le Bich Phuong, Secretary of the Chau Thanh District Party Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for the Program to Eliminate Temporary and Dilapidated Housing, acknowledged and highly praised the efforts and dedication of all levels of government, sectors, and localities within the district. She expressed sincere gratitude for the noble acts and compassion shown by officials, Party members, public servants, civil servants, community members, benefactors, and businesses both within and beyond the district who actively supported the program.

She urged continued efforts by Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, and mass organizations in the district to identify all eligible households and mobilize every available societal resource, in coordination with state support, to help build safe housing for these families. For households that have already received assistance, she emphasized the importance of ongoing education to foster self-reliance and resilience, avoiding dependency. She also recommended integrating initiatives to promote cultural life and household economic development into grassroots-level Party cell meetings in neighborhoods and hamlets.

Reported by Trung Hieu

Translated by Kim Thuan